R&D manager

Role & responsibilities

Job Purpose:

To lead the research and development activities of the beverage plant, focusing on new product development, process improvement, cost optimization, and quality enhancement. The R&D Manager will ensure that all formulations comply with company standards, market requirements, and food safety regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

• New Product Development:

• Conceptualize, design, and develop new beverages (carbonated, non-carbonated, juices, flavored water, etc.).
  
• Conduct pilot trials and scale-up formulations to production level.
  
• Collaborate with marketing for consumer insights and trend analysis.
  

• Product Improvement:

• Continuously evaluate existing products for quality enhancement, cost reduction, and shelf-life improvement.
  
• Optimize recipes to ensure consistency, stability, and cost-effectiveness.
  

• Process Development & Standardization:

• Develop and validate manufacturing processes for new products.
  
• Prepare SOPs for blending, filling, carbonation, and packaging processes.
  
• Support production teams during plant trials and first batch runs.
  

• Regulatory & Compliance:

• Ensure all formulations comply with FSSAI, BIS, and other relevant regulatory standards.
  
• Maintain documentation of formulations, ingredient approvals, and product registrations.
  

• Vendor & Raw Material Development:

• Work with procurement to evaluate and approve new ingredients, flavors, colors, and stabilizers.
  
• Liaise with suppliers for new raw material innovation and trials.
  

• Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Coordinate with Quality, Production, and Marketing teams to ensure product feasibility and commercial success.
  
• Support Marketing with technical inputs for product launches and packaging claims.
  

• Innovation & Market Research:

• Stay updated on beverage trends, ingredients, and processing technologies.
  
• Drive innovation pipeline in alignment with company strategy.
  

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of beverage formulation, ingredients, and sensory evaluation.
  
• Hands-on experience with carbonation, blending, and flavor development.
  
• Understanding of food safety, hygiene, and regulatory norms (FSSAI, BIS).
  
• Analytical thinking, creativity, and project management skills.
  
• Excellent communication and team leadership abilities.
  

Qualifications & Experience:

• Education:

  M.Sc. / M.Tech in Food Technology, Food Science, Chemistry, or related field.

• Experience:

  Minimum 812 years in R&D / Product Development in the

  Beverage / FMCG

  industry.
• Experience with

  carbonated beverages, juices, energy drinks, or flavored water

  preferred.